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218 reasons NOT to vote for the Liberals

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218 reasons NOT to vote for the Liberals

By LINDA WILLIAMSON, TORONTO SUN

http://www.torontosun.com/News/Election/2006/01/22/1405861-sun.html

After 12 years, we at the Sun think it's self-evident that the Liberals have to go, and polls show most Canadians agree.

But just in case you're still not sure, we've compiled a list of the lowlights of Liberal rule since 1993.

There's plenty more where these came from, but we've narrowed it to 218 reasons not to vote Liberal. Take your pick: You really only need one.

THIS ELECTION -- WE DID NOT MAKE THIS UP

1 Pre-election spending: $22.2 billion, according to Canadian Taxpayers Federation.

2 Pre-election tax relief: $30 billion -- about $323 per taxpayer; up from May budget total of only $16/year.

3 Attack ads. Smearing Stephen Harper. And our soldiers. Approved by Paul Martin himself. In Canada.

4 "Soldiers" ad pulled in English but French version continues in Quebec. Several Liberals say the ad is appalling.

5 TV journalist Mike Duffy accuses Liberal strategist John Duffy of trying to intimidate him into not discussing the ad.

6 Jan. 9: Martin suddenly vows, mid-debate, to scrap the feds' ability to use the "notwithstanding" clause in Charter cases. Even senior Liberals are shocked.

7 Conservatives accused of planning to "take away a woman's right to choose," despite promises to the contrary.

8 Grits charge Conservatives won't keep promises. Hmm.

9 Courting Toronto votes in the wake of record gun murders, Martin promises to ban handguns -- which have effectively been banned since 1937.

10 Also promises to ban weapons in outer space.

11 PM pledges mandatory minimum sentences for some crimes, despite Justice Minister's assertions they don't work.

12 Promises "heroes" fund for injured firefighters and rescuers -- an idea 57 Grits earlier voted against.

13 Spokesman Scott Reid declares parents would only blow the Tories' child care subsidy on "beer and popcorn."

14 Ontario VP Mike Klander resigns over blog comparing NDP's Olivia Chow to a dog and blasting Jack Layton.

15 Industry Minister David Emerson says NDP Leader Layton has a "boiled dog's head smile."

16 Oakville riding association president quits after telling anti-gun-registry voter to take her "gun-loving ass back to the U.S."

17 Martin blasts Conservative plan to cut GST; in 1993, he co-wrote Red Book promising to get rid of it.

18 Ex-Harvard prof and would-be leader Michael Ignatieff's nomination engineered over protest in Etobicoke-Lakeshore.

19 33% of voters believe Liberals have a "hidden agenda," as opposed to Conservatives (25%), according to Ipsos-Reid.

20 Chinese head tax: Liberals refused to apologize; PM suddenly offers "personal regret" on Chinese-language TV.

21 Separatism: Martin calls this a "referendum election."

22 80% of Quebecers dislike Martin (Strategic Counsel poll).

23 Martin vows to fight Bloc Leader Gilles Duceppe on "every street corner" but later refuses to debate one-on-one.

24 Martin criticizes U.S. on Kyoto at climate conference -- even though Canada's emissions record is worse than theirs.

25 When U.S. ambassador points this out, Martin declares he won't be "dictated" to and will "stand up for Canada."

26 Martin stages photo- op with ex-U.S.-prez Bill Clinton.

MINORITY MADNESS, SPRING FEVER 2005: 27-37

27 April: Martin pleaded on TV to be allowed to govern until 30 days after Justice John Gomery's final report on AdScam.

28 Grits then announced $23 billion in pre-pre-election spending.

29 May: Opposition days suspended so they can't call non-confidence vote.

30 NDP deal: Backroom deal to buy NDP support forced budget changes -- adding another $4.6 billion in spending.

31 Martin reversed sensible stand on U.S. missile defence.

32 Aid to Darfur boosted in bid to buy support of Independent MP David Kilgour.

33 Promised Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty $5.75 billion to fix "fiscal imbalance" over five years.

34 May 10: Grits lost vote 153-150 calling for them to resign, but refused to do so.

35 Secret health deal proposed to NDP; Layton rejects it.

36 May 17: Belinda Stronach wooed into Liberal caucus -- and cabinet -- just in time to win non-confidence vote.

37 Post-Belinda, Conservative MP Gurmant Grewal revealed tape recordings of PMO staffer Tim Murphy and Health Minister Ujjal Dosanjh discussing possible incentives if he crossed the floor. Grits said tapes were doctored.

PAUL MARTIN'S LEGACY -- MR. DITHERS TAKES THE HELM: 38-63

38 Worked with loyal team for more than a decade to take over party from Jean Chretien.

39 Only rival left for leadership was Sheila Copps.

40 Put his company, Canada Steamship Lines, in a "blind trust" that wasn't. As PM, was allowed to transfer ownership to his sons, keeping it in the family.

41 Registered several CSL ships under foreign flags to avoid Canadian taxes.

42 Used U2 singer Bono for his star power; left him "mystified" and "crushed" by failing to deliver on world poverty.

43 Extended term of big-spending Gov.-Gen. Adrienne Clarkson; appointed Michaelle Jean without thoroughly checking out her past association with separatists.

44 Promised to "fix health care for a generation" with $41-billion deal with the provinces in 2004. Some fix!

45 Made separate side deal with Quebec on health care, calling it "asymmetrical federalism."

46 Agreed on "wait times strategy" with provinces in 2004. Still waiting for it to be implemented.

47 Personal doctor runs a private clinic.

48 Promised to change the way Supreme Court judges were appointed -- but only allowed MPs to question Justice Minister about them, after the fact.

49 Promised to diminish Western alienation or "I will have failed."

50 Slow to return from vacation after the South Asian tsunami, and dithered on sending Disaster Assistance Response Team.

51 February 2005: The Economist magazine immortalized "Mr. Dithers" nickname for his "faltering leadership."

52 May 2005: 63% told Strategic Counsel poll Martin was most dishonest party leader; 61% felt he was most likely to lie.

53 Sent controversial same-sex marriage bill to Supreme Court; didn't insist on a ruling on traditional marriage.

54 Invoked closure to ram same-sex bill into law June 28; cabinet members not allowed to vote their conscience.

55 Gave $2.2 billion in gas tax revenues to public transit, but none of it to repair crumbling roads.

56 Cut capital gains tax on charitable donations of securities to 50% in 1997, refused to eliminate it.

57 2004: Feds shamed over plan to send 70 bureaucrats to 60th anniversary D-Day event -- but only 60 veterans.

58 Tolerated Carolyn Parrish ("Damn Americans -- I hate those bastards") in caucus until she dissed him personally.

59 Blamed America for Canada's gun problem.

60 Before becoming PM, opposed the Clarity Act.

61 Ditto same-sex marriage.

62 And the Kyoto accord.

63 Also leaned toward joining the U.S.-led war in Iraq.

MARTIN'S TURNCOAT MINISTERS: 64-67

Each of these converts to Paul Martin's Liberal team just happened to score a cabinet post:

64 Belinda Stronach (ex-Conservative leadership contender) -- in charge of Human Resources and, yes, ethics reform.

65 Scott Brison (ex-PC leadership hopeful) -- Public Works.

66 Ujjal Dosanjh (ex-NDP B.C. premier) -- Health.

67 Jean Lapierre (co-founder of Bloc Quebecois) -- Quebec lieutenant and Transportation.

LAST ELECTION, JUNE 2004, MAJORITY TO MINORITY: 68-75

68 Pre-election spending: $8 billion for everything from health care to highways.

69 Martin shut down Commons AdScam committee, announced Gomery inquiry -- then promptly called the election before it could start.

70 Attack ads against Conservatives accused them of wanting to recriminalize abortion, send troops to Iraq, and govern like Brian Mulroney and Mike Harris.

71 Accused Harper of plotting with Alberta's Ralph Klein to destroy medicare.

72 Called Conservative forecast of $50-billion surplus over five years a "black hole"; Grit surpluses now exceed that.

73 PM's handpicked Winnipeg candidate Glen Murray lost to quadriplegic Conservative Steven Fletcher.

74 Mid-campaign, Martin promised Newfoundland premier Danny Williams an oil and gas revenue deal; then reneged post-election until Williams went ballistic.

75 Ministers Judy Sgro and John McCallum dispatched to heckle Harper at events.

Promises, Promises -- Grit Moments in Dithering: 76-85

76 1993: Red Book promised an independent ethics commisioner reporting to Parliament. Not implemented until 2004.

77 1993: Promised national daycare program: Signed first deals with provinces to begin implementing it in 2005.

78 1993: Promised to boost immigration levels to 300,000 per year: Announced the same target twice last fall -- despite a current 700,000-person backlog.

79 1993: Promised to reform Young Offenders Act. Youth Criminal Justice Act finally took effect in 2003, and is even worse.

80 1993: Promised national pharmacare program. No action.

81 Ditto for their 1993 promise of national home care.

82 1994: Justice minister Allan Rock promised national sex offender registry: Finally established in 2004, but had to be amended in 2005 to include Karla Homolka. Ditto for national DNA databank -- finally passed before this election.

83 1995: Martin imposed 1.5c/litre "deficit-fighting" tax on gasoline. Deficit was eliminated in 1997, but tax is still there. Now Grits justify it as part of the gas tax "deal" for cities.

84 1999: Justice minister Anne McLellan told the Commons: "The government has no intention of changing the definition of marriage or of legislating same-sex marriages."

85 20 years after Air India bombing, after years of resisting calls for an inquiry, Grits announced a limited one before this election.

Patronage, Piggery and 'Entitlements': 86-98

86 Martin appointed Francis Fox, who worked in his PMO and on his leadership, to the Senate.

87 Also Dennis Dawson, another staunch Martin backer.

88 And James Cowan, his leadership head in Nova Scotia.

89 Ditto Liberal fundraiser Rod Zimmer.

90 And Art Eggleton, who stepped aside in 2004 for Martin protege Ken Dryden.

91 October: Feds refused to cut gas taxes, but raised MPs' and staff travel allowances 4.6c/km due to high gas prices.

92 2001: MPs gave themselves pay raies of 20% -- retroactive to January. Cabinet ministers got 22%; PM Jean Chretien 42% -- boosting his pension 82%!

93 Among Chretien's many patronage appointments: Former PMO spokesman Jim Munson to the Senate.

94 Same for former chief of staff Percy Downe.

95 And longtime adviser David Smith.

96 PMO crony Jean Pelletier went to head VIA Rail (from which Martin has now fired him twice over AdScam).

97 Andre Ouellett got Canada Post, where he once cashed over $300,000 in expenses with no receipts (fired by Martin).

98 David Dingwall got the Mint; was fired over expenses but is fighting for severance: "I'm entitled to my entitlements."

INTEGRITY -- FAMOUS GRIT WORDS: 99-103

99 "The government will restore the public's faith and trust in the integrity and good management of government."

-- Martin government's first throne speech, Feb. 2004

100 "We are going to condemn to history the practice and the politics of cronyism ... No longer will the culture in Ottawa be one of entitlement."

-- Martin speech, March 2004

101 "Perhaps there was a few million dollars that might have been stolen in the process; it is possible."

-- Jean Chretien, 2002, defending the sponsorship program

102 "Cynicism about public institutions, governments, politicians, and the political process is at an all-time high ... Honesty and integrity in our political institutions must be restored."

-- 1993 Red Book, co-written by Paul Martin

103 "Screw the Red Book. Don't tell me what's in the Red Book. I wrote the goddamned thing. And I know that it's a lot of crap."

-- Martin as quoted in the 1996 book Double Vision: The Inside Story of the Liberals in Power

MINISTERIAL AND MP MISDEEDS: 104-125

104 Joe Volpe expensed $138 for a "pizza dinner for two."

105 Pierre Pettigrew took his chauffeur on $10,000 worth of trips, even though he didn't need him to drive.

106 Judy Sgro said the ethics commissioner "vindicated" her in the foreign strippers scandal, when he found her in "clear violation" of parts of the conflict-of- interest code.

107 Ralph Goodale said in 2004 the surplus would be $1.9 billion -- it turned out to be $9.1 billion.

108 Don Boudria spent a weekend at the luxury ski chalet of Quebec advertising honcho Claude Boulay.

109 So did Denis Coderre.

110, 111, 112, 113, 114: Allan Rock, Claudette Brashaw, David Anderson, Jane Stewart and Bob Thibault all accepted free fishing trips and/or flights from the wealthy Irving family of New Brunswick.

115 Hedy Fry falsely claimed racists in Prince George, B.C. were "burning crosses on lawns."

116 Herb Dhaliwal called U.S. President George Bush a failed statesman.

117 Lawrence MacAulay lobbied the RCMP and Corrections Canada to fund training at a college his brother headed.

118 Art Eggleton lost his post as defence minister for giving a contract to an ex-girlfriend.

119 Scarborough MP Tom Wappel refused to help an 81-year-old blind war vet because he didn't vote for him.

120 John Manley proposed subsidizing Canadian NHL teams up to $3.5 million each; scrapped the idea two days later.

121 Andy Scott was overheard on a plane saying he would have to "cover" for Chretien at the 1998 APEC inquiry.

122 Sheila Copps' Heritage department spent $15 million on "free" Canadian flags for all.

123 Copps kept her promise to resign when the Grits failed to scrap the GST -- and was promptly re-elected.

124 Michel Dupuy attended a 1995 dinner with Liberal lobbyists and others who ended up receiving federal grants.

125 Jag Bhaduria was expelled from caucus over revelations that he falsified his background and wrote threatening letters.

ADSCAM, THE MOTHER OF ALL SCANDALS: 126-137

Justice John Gomery's November report is reason alone not to vote Liberal. Here's just a tiny taste of why:

126 Gomery inquiry testimony drove separatist support to highest level in a decade.

127 Gomery summed up AdScam: "A story of greed, venality and misconduct" featuring "a complex web of financial transactions among Public Works ... Crown corporations and communication agencies, involving kickbacks and illegal contributions to (the Liberal) party."

128 Gomery on the Liberal party (Quebec wing): "The (party) as an institution cannot escape responsibility for the misconduct of its officers and representatives."

129 Jean Chretien openly taunted the judge by bringing golf balls to the inquiry, saying they weren't "small-town cheap."

130 Martin led cheers in caucus for Chretien the next day.

131 The forensic accountants who exposed the Enron scandal said even they couldn't tell where all the AdScam cash went.

132 Among the things sponsorship money paid for: 1,200 golf balls bearing Chretien's signature;

133 $46,300 worth of maple-leaf neckties;

134 Montreal Grand Prix tickets for senior Grits;

135 $100,000 worth of Christmas decorations;

136 A TV series airing in China.

137 A $16,000 plaque and flag in a store in Chretien's riding.

Speaking of Scandals: 138-158

138 Gun registry: Supposed to cost $2 million, now at nearly $2 billion (even AG can't fathom it), with gun crimes rising.

139 Income trusts: Suspicious trading before Ralph Goodale's Nov. 23 announcement now under RCMP investigation.

140 Option Canada: Secret 1995 unity fund now being probed by RCMP.

141 HRDC boondoggle: $1 billion blown on dubious job-creation projects (including a fountain in Shawinigan).

142 Helicopters: Cancelling contract to replace aging Sea Kings in 1993 cost $500 million and put troops at risk. New contract finally issued in July 2005.

143 Submarines: $750 million to buy used British subs that leak and, in one case, caught fire, killing one submariner.

144 Home heating rebate: Finance minister Martin doled out $1 billion in pre-2000-election cheques to people who didn't need them, including 7,500 who were dead.

145 Shawinigate: Chretien lied about intervening to secure a federal business loan for an associate in his riding. Later said such interventions were "the normal operation."

146 Francois Beaudoin: Raided, intimidated by Liberal operatives and forced from his federal bank job after questioning the loan to Chretien's Shawinigan associate. Judge Andre Denis later called it "an unspeakable injustice."

147 Hepatitis C: Liberals, under Chretien's orders, voted in 1998 against compensating excluded victims of tainted blood scandal; changed their tune in 2004 -- no money has flowed yet.

148 Airbus: Feds apologized in 1997 and paid $2 million to former PM Brian Mulroney for false kickback allegations.

149 Challenger jets: Chretien made secret, rushed, untendered $100-million deal to buy two from Bombardier in 2002.

150 Somalia inquiry: Grits shut it down prematurely in 1997.

151 Agent Orange: Feds dithered on compensating soldiers exposed to the toxic Vietnam-era chemical in Gagetown, N.B.

152 Zahra Kazemi: Canadian's murder covered up in Iran; Canada's response was weak.

153 Bill Sampson: Canadian wrongly imprisoned and tortured in Saudi Arabia for 3 years; Canada's response was weak.

154 Maher Arar: Canadian wrongly imprisoned in Syria for a year; Canada's response was weak (inquiry is now pending).

155 Tobacco suit: $1-billion civil suit in the U.S. against a Canadian tobacco giant for allegedly evading billions in taxes by smuggling cigarettes was thrown out. Cost: $17 million.

156 Air security fee: Imposed excessive $24/round trip tax in 2001, raking in $1 million/day (since cut to $14/round trip).

157Ads: AG Sheila Fraser said on top of AdScam, some $800 million in ad contracts since 2000 were questionable.

158 Canada "wordmark": Feds paid ad firms $1 million to "develop" it; later conceded it's existed since 1965.

OVERALL LIBERAL RECORD 159-183

159 Increased spending 37% since 2000; 55.8% since eliminating the deficit in 1997, says Canadian Taxpayers Federation.

160 Increased federal staff 10% since 1999, the CTF says.

161 Tax Freedom Day in 1993: June 6. Last year: June 26, according to Fraser Institute.

162 Average family income increase since 1993: 37%. Average increase in that family's taxes: 50%, according to CTF.

163 Spending predicted (in November) to rise 25% by 2010.

164 In past two budgets, stashed $9 billion in untouchable "foundations" -- AG warned of lack of accountability.

165 1998: Martin, as finance minister, reduced EI premiums 15c/$100 but hiked CPP premiums 30c/$100, costing taxpayers $59 a year.

166 1999: AG found EI surplus excessive.

167 1996: Spent $1 billion getting Atlantic provinces to "harmonize" GST and PST.

168 2000-2005: Fiscal surplus forecasts understimated by a total of $35.3 billion.

169 Promised to decriminalize marijuana, satisfied no one.

170 Encouraged Corrections Canada to release inmates as early as possible -- prisons boss said goal was 50% release rate.

171 1996: Brought in conditional (house arrest) sentences for violent crime, including homicide.

172 1997: Tightened notorious "faint-hope clause" that lets murderers appply for parole after just 15 years -- but only to exclude serial killers, and only those who kill after 1997.

173 2005: Established $3.7-million pilot project to set up tattoo parlours in prisons.

174 1994-97: Refugee backlog doubled.

175 1997: Wasted more than $300 million a year paying social benefits to backlogged refugee claimants, AG found.

176 1998: Lost track of 4,613 refugee claimants up to August.

177 2003: Lost track of 36,000 immigrants ordered deported, AG found.

178 2002: Senate Committee on National Security and Defence said Armed Forces were so overstretched they should step down from all peacekeeping operations for two years.

179 2005: Same committee found Canada not equipped to handle a major disaster.

180 1997: Low-paid soldiers resorted to using food banks.

181 2001: Troops sent to Afghanistan in forest-green uniforms.

182 Ottawa too secretive, Information Commissioner reported.

183 10 years after the 1995 Quebec referendum, 48% of Quebecers told Strategic Counsel pollsters they would vote "Yes" to separation again; 47% said "No."

JEAN CHRETIEN'S LEGACY -- 'A PROOF IS A PROOF' 184-199

184 1993: Kept campaign promise to cancel Pearson airport privatization deal. Estimated cost of cancellation: $1 billion.

185 1993: Broke campaign promise to get rid of GST.

186 1993: Embraced NAFTA, 27 days after winning election promising to fight it.

187 1995: Almost lost the country in Quebec referendum.

188 1995: Created sponsorship program in response.

189 1996: Throttled a demonstrator at Flag Day event.

190 1996: Claimed he had regular chats with a homeless man.

191 1998: Joked about RCMP pepper-spraying demonstrators at APEC summit in B.C.: "Pepper, I put it on my plate."

192 1998: Called 64c dollar "good for exporters."

193 2001: Did nothing for 25 Canadians killed in 9/11, delayed visiting attack site. 194 Blamed U.S. "greed" for terrorism.

195 2002: Staffer Francie Ducros called George Bush a "moron."

196 2002: Responded when asked what kind of proof he'd need to join the invasion of Iraq: "A proof is a proof and when you have a good proof it's because it's proven."

197 2002: Refused to join Iraq war, or to confirm Canada had 31 soldiers serving there with U.S. and British forces.

198 2002: Announced his retirement -- for 2004!

199 Refused to declare Ontario SARS crisis a disaster; offered paltry aid.

2000 ELECTION -- CHRETIEN'S LAST LAUGH: 200-207

200 Pre-election spending: $2.248 billion in week before vote called, according to Canadian Taxpayers Federation.

201 Premature election ended shortest majority mandate in 90 years (three years) -- cost $200 million.

202 Lifted Canadian Alliance platform promise: $100 billion in tax cuts.

203 $100 billion tax cut really $55.4 billion when other things like CPP increases are factored in, CTF calculated.

204 22 RCMP investigations ongoing into Grit grant and loan programs, including four in Chretien's riding alone.

205 Elinor Caplan, immigration minister, told voters supporters of the Alliance were racists and Holocaust deniers.

206 Alliance accused of supporting "two-tier" health care.

207 Chretien openly talked about quitting post- election.

1997 ELECTION -- LIBERAL MAJORITY SHRINKS: 208-210

208 Pre-election spending: $8 billion.

209 Vote called despite Manitoba flood crisis.

210 35% of voters said June 2 election call was premature.

WHERE CANADA STANDS NOW: 211-218

211 Economy: 12th among industrialized nations, according to Conference Board of Canada (down from 3rd in 2003).

212 Competitiveness: 14th, according to World Economic Forum (down from 4th in 1997).

213 Health care: 30th in efficiency, according to World Health Organization.

214 Ethics: 14th, says Transparency International, due to "marked increase" in corruption (down from 5th).

215 Military spending: 153rd out of 192 countries, based on percentage of GDP; 14th in per-capita spending.

216 Peacekeeping: 36th, according to UN.

217 Personal income tax burden: Highest in G-8, says OECD.

218 Marginal tax rates: Second only to China, says C.D. Howe Institute.

 
Saw the ad in the Ottawa Sun great job!!! on posting. Ah the joys of copying and pasteing!! :D

My top 5:
1. Attack ads. Smearing Stephen Harper. And our soldiers. Approved by Paul Martin himself. In Canada.
2. Joked about RCMP pepper-spraying demonstrators at APEC summit in B.C.: "Pepper, I put it on my plate."
3. Helicopters: Cancelling contract to replace aging Sea Kings in 1993 cost $500 million and put troops at risk. New contract finally issued in July 2005.
4. Belinda Stronach (ex-Conservative leadership contender) -- in charge of Human Resources and, yes, ethics reform.
5. Tolerated Carolyn Parrish ("Damn Americans -- I hate those bastards") in caucus until she dissed him personally.

These Libeals need to take a hike in my opinion!! I won't be voting for them tomorrow you can guaratee it
 
And more...

'Linda, this makes me sick'

Insider reveals Liberal government is mailing $250 energy rebate cheques to prison inmates

Who says crime doesn't pay?

Just ask Ottawa's crooked politicians, who've defrauded us of our tax dollars with no fear of ever going to jail.

And now they're sending our tax dollars to jailbirds.

Read on and try not to burst an artery.

Just as we get set to vote tomorrow, $250 energy rebate cheques are being sent to criminals behind bars, who already got to cast their vote in the comfort of their cells, heated by our tax dollars.

Linda, this makes me sick," sniffed a correctional officer, who was on the line complaining he had just distributed cheques from Canada Revenue Agency (formerly Revenue Canada) to four inmates at a provincial detention centre, located north of Toronto.

One inmate had been at the detention centre fighting deportation since December 2004, after he was transferred from a federal prison where he had served his sentence.

He has 23 convictions, including armed robbery and drug offences.

This officer, who's worked for Ontario's ministry of correctional services for 16 years and asked not to be named for fear of being disciplined for speaking out, went on: "I'm delivering money to criminals that's been stolen from me and other hard-working taxpayers in Canada."

This isn't the first time, he said. In 2001, in another lamebrained Liberal scheme to help Canadians deal with skyrocketing home heating costs, many inmates received rebate cheques of $125 to $250.

It was part of the botched $1.4-billion rebate program, whereby only $250 million went to low-income Canadians struggling with home heating costs.

According to Canada's auditor general, most of the rest of the money went to dead people, inmates and Canadians who don't pay any heating bills at all.

Now the Liberals are doing it again.

Prime Minister Paul Martin refused to listen to taxpayers, who joined in the Sun's gas tax revolt demanding relief from skyrocketing energy prices by

axing the high taxes at the gas pumps, especially the GST -- which is a tax on tax.

The GST alone has netted Martin's coffers a windfall of millions in extra tax revenues.

So last fall I went to Ottawa to deliver thousands of gas tax protection coupons and demand fairness.

Martin refused to accept them, so Conservative Leader Stephen Harper, who's promising to cut the 7% GST by 2% on all goods and services, took them.

At the same time, Martin and his taxman, Ralph Goodale, announced they were again delivering their flawed rebate program, this time at cost of $2.4 billion. And now criminals are again getting cheques.

The Liberals also voted to pump up their own gas allowances by 10%, with an MP now getting $500 for every 1,000 km he or she drives.

"Many of my colleagues who work here are struggling with high gasoline prices, home heating costs and electricity bills. Yet, MPs and criminals are getting relief, and not us," complained the disgruntled officer.

He also was upset that after alerting tax officials at CRA that government cheques were being sent to a post office address that belongs to a prison, he was told nothing could be done.

"Can you believe Revenue Canada told me they have no system in place to cross reference where the cheques are going?" he said.

Meanwhile, the mighty hand of Ottawa's tax auditors are quick to come after hard-working, middle-class families. For example, the disgruntled officer said he was audited after claiming moving expenses to take a job north of Toronto.

As well, a colleague he works with is being forced to pay back $86 in a GST credit given to his late mother-in-law, who passed away last year.

Bottom line is it's not just energy rebate cheques making their way into our prisons. Inmates commonly receive GST credits, worker's compensation, tax refunds, and welfare cheques, though welfare has been clamped down on, the correctional officer said.

And, as reported in this space, many a telemarketing scam and other frauds are carried out from inside prison walls.

Yet our correctional officers are powerless to blow the whistle.

My insider explained, "If I call up and say an inmate is committing fraud, I have violated the oath of secrecy I took as a peace officer."

So where's the whistle blower legislation to protect him?

Tomorrow is the day to have your say. Get out there and vote.

In the words of this correctional officer: "I work to July to hand over all my money to the taxman, and today I gave convicted criminals a rebate cheque. It's all wrong. It's time we stood up and said enough is enough."

 
And still more...

EDITORIAL: Harper deserves to become PM

Elsewhere in today's paper, we've offered 218 reasons not to vote Liberal tomorrow. Herewith, why we think Canadians should vote Conservative.

Conservative Leader Stephen Harper has earned the privilege of becoming Canada's 22nd prime minister.

Millions of Canadians sense it -- after 12 years in power, the Liberal party is tired, stale, arrogant, corrupt.

We need a change.

Liberal PM Paul Martin has devoted far more time and energy in this campaign trying to demonize Harper than he has on outlining a coherent vision for Canada.
We think the reason is obvious. Martin doesn't have one.

By contrast, Harper has reached out to hard-working, law-abiding Canadians.

He has learned from his past mistakes. He has presented a moderate, policy-heavy, fiscally conservative platform -- no "hidden agenda" to be found. Next to his sensible plan, Martin's wild ideas -- like scrapping the notwithstanding clause (?!?) -- seem irrational, even disturbing.

Harper has been short on rhetoric and long on solid ideas such as cutting the GST and helping parents with the cost of raising their children, while not forcing them to worship at the Liberal shrine of institutional daycare.

Harper recognizes that Canadians are fed up with a justice system that, under the Liberals, has cared far more about the rights of criminals than protecting law-abiding citizens and helping the victims of crime.

He knows that Canadians, regardless of whether they live in Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, or anywhere else, simply want their federal government to work better for them.

They do not want it to brag, as Martin and the Liberals have, about record "government" surpluses, while Canadians wait months and even years for necessary medical treatment.

Harper has shown he appreciates that there is no such thing as a "government" surplus -- that it is all taxpayers' money, which should either be put back into the pockets of taxpayers through tax cuts, or be spent responsibly and accountably on making the lives of Canadians better. Not mismanaged, wasted and stolen -- the Liberal legacy of AdScam and so many other appalling scandals.

In endorsing Harper and the Conservatives, we are not suggesting they're perfect. They're rookies. Should they win tomorrow, they'll make mistakes.

We are concerned that the costs of some major elements of Harper's fiscal plan -- such as solving what he calls the fiscal imbalance with the provinces -- remain unknown.

And while we support the traditional definition of marriage, we are opposed to wasting valuable time revisiting this issue in Parliament, as Harper has pledged to do.

After 12 years of Liberal rule, there is so much more important work to do, from fixing health care, to developing an adult relationship with the Americans, to rebuilding our military, to cementing the ties that bind our nation together, which the Liberals have frayed by their arrogance and corruption.

It's time to kick them out and give Harper and the Conservatives a chance to repair the damage the Grits have done.

 
Grits already conceding

Most admit Tory minority is best they can hope for

By STEPHANIE RUBEC, SENIOR POLITICAL REPORTER

BRAMPTON -- Liberal volunteers, organizers and even MPs are admitting certain defeat tomorrow night at the hands of Stephen Harper's Conservatives barring an 11th hour change of heart by Canadian voters.

As Grit troops fan across Canada this weekend in a last-ditch effort to turn the tide in their favour through fevered door-knocking, they're weighed down by the latest polls that show the Tories remain in the lead and have gained substantial ground in vote-rich Quebec.

Most Grits publicly insist there's still a chance their leader Paul Martin will "pull a rabbit out of the hat" and bring home a second Liberal minority but privately they admit they've lost faith.

"I wish we were going to win, but we are going to lose," said a long-time Liberal organizer working in Toronto who has booked a vacation to a sunny spot next week to lift his spirits. "I wish we could pick up just enough seats to pull it off."

Asked when he threw in the towel, the veteran Grit replied: "When we had no time left to rebound in the polls."

The latest polls have seen the Conservatives lead narrow slightly but they still show Harper winning the election and forming a minority government.

Liberals say they've run out of time to convince Canadians to turn their back on Harper and shun NDP Leader Jack Layton. An MP of 18 years said there's little hope the tide will swing in his party's favour by tomorrow, but he's convinced he'll win his GTA seat.

"I will be enjoying my time in opposition," the MP said. "Been there before and had fun. I will have fun again."

The MP said there remains a glimmer of hope that Canadians will chose Martin over Harper tomorrow, but predicted a certain loss in his neighbouring ridings.

A Liberal minister's senior aide predicted voters will hand the Tories a slim five- to 10-seat advantage in the Commons, and if southwest Ontario goes blue, then other ridings are sure to follow.

The aide said there's a silver lining to defeat, pointing out a small minority would make Harper vulnerable to defeat on his first budget vote and see a likely Grit comeback.

Optimistic Grits say they're pinning their hopes on those undecided voters who they say often cast their ballot for Grit candidates in the past.

"We have to wait and see what the turnout is going to be -- there's still a high percentage of undecided," said Liberal candidate Janko Peric, who was an MP in Jean Chretien's and Martin's government until he lost the 2004 election.

Another Toronto-area MP said if his party survives and remains in government it's because local organizers succeeded at getting the undecided and traditional Liberal supporters to the polls tomorrow.

"In the 905, 416 area we're winning. As long as we stay on message we'll be okay," the MP said. Grits are divided on whether they expect Martin to step down immediately and launch a leadership race or if he'll stay on with a slim Conservative victory.

http://torontosun.com/News/Election/2006/01/22/1405860-sun.html
 
We definitley need a change in  :cdn: because Paul MArtin is making us look like Jackasses in front of the rest of the world!! I need to stop reading before I have a coronary  :brickwall:

Because all the Liberal government likes to do is argue and try to make themselves look better in the eyes of  the public.

:argument:

Great posts Slim so I guess you aren't voting liberal huh? :)
 
I would have to agree with everyone. Martin and the Liberals has to go, for a while, but Martin really has to go. Martin is not PM material compared to everyone else. A new leader of the Liberals has to be put into place in order to remotely make the Liberals "electable".

I think that Paul Martin should book a flight on Westjet to Hawaii and rethink everything when this is all over. They are having a promotion that if you share the surname with either the NDP, Liberal, Conservative, Bloc, or Green party leaders, you get a free flight (you need to pay the taxes and surcharges) after January 23rd.
 
To paraphrase the Lord of the Rings:

I will vote Liberal.  I will vote Liberal when Paul Martin and all of his works have perished! He holds out his  hand to me, and I perceive only a finger of the claw of Soviet Russia. When Liberals hang from a gibbet on the Peace tower for the sport of crows, I will have peace with the Liberal party, but I fear his voice has lost its charm."
 
Anyone catch this in the papers today, Stephen Harper presented King Carl Gustaf of Sweden, A Hockey puck with the Cdn coat of arms & signed by himself............

Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose!!

Where is Judge Gomery when you need him?
 
geo said:
Anyone catch this in the papers today, Stephen Harper presented King Carl Gustaf of Sweden, A Hockey puck with the Cdn coat of arms & signed by himself............
Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose!!
Only if it was $16,000 puck.
 
geo said:
Anyone catch this in the papers today, Stephen Harper presented King Carl Gustaf of Sweden, A Hockey puck with the Cdn coat of arms & signed by himself............

Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose!!

Where is Judge Gomery when you need him?

Harper was not stupid...the pucks were paid for by the Conservative Party, not the government
 
GAP said:
Harper was not stupid...the pucks were paid for by the Conservative Party, not the government

That's nice to know.........
 
This thread might be dedicated to the upcoming byelections, rather than a hockey puck.
 
I can think of millions of reasons not to vote Liberal, too bad some of it is actually my money. :-\
 
An interesting comparison of the people who actually represent their parties as MP's

http://kitchenerconservative.blogspot.com/2006/11/mp-newsletters-tale-of-two-cities.html

MP Newsletters: A Tale of Two Cities

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times" Dickens best described the MP newsletters just received in my mailbox.

For some reason in addition to receiving a newsletter from my MP, Conservative Harold Albrecht, I also received a newsletter from Liberal MP Andrew Telegdi. The contrast between the two
is stricking and very telling.

The Conservative newsletter is very much what I would expect from my MP. He talked about the goals he wants to achieve. He also had information about how he can help with dealing with government agencies, application forms, and other general things. He also told about summer job opportunities on Parliament Hill, and of course went into detail about how we are helping in Afghanistan. He also included a feedback form that we can send to tell him how we think he's doing, and what we want him to focus on. Overall, a very positive and informative newsletter.

The newsletter received from Andrew Telegdi was very different. I think these exerpts sum it up best

"I am disappointed that the election has produced a "new" Conservative Government. The defeat of the Liberal Government meant the elimination of the gun registry, out Kyoto commitment, the Kelowna Accord...[these programs either did nothing, nothing was done about them, or they were made just prior to an election being called by the Liberal Government]

Stephen Harper's foreign policy shifts in the Middle East and Afghanistan are a chilling echo of Bush's Republicans. [He forgets that his Liberal Government sent us there]

During the last session I was outraged that the flags on Parliament Hill were not lowered when Canadian soldiers were killed [Again his government stopped lowering the flag]

He even refers to Stephen Harper as "Bush-North"

His bolded quote is "In every arena, Harper's policies are out of touch with Canadian values"

He even tries to bring up the ridiculous Aids conferences with "It was completely inexcusable that the Prime Minister of Canada refused to attend" [just like Jean Cretien]

The more I read, the more insensed I became. He goes on about the Conservative and climate change.

My favourite was "If this is Standing up for Canada - please! Steve! Take a seat and let somebody else do the job right!" [Up yours Andrew Telegdi]

His entire newletter was complete party drivel. Not once did he talk about how he could help his constituents.

If I was one of his constituents, I be asking the question, what the hell is this guy doing for me?

I like the quote about "Canadian values". I suppose wanting value for money, demanding accountability from our elected representatives or dealing with criminals are not Canadian values in this MP's mind. (Or are they just not Liberal values?)
 
geo said:
Political hot potatos?

Hmmmmmmm.......did someone mention hot potato(s) :-[  Must be a hidden camera here somewhere................

I'm blushing.........

potato
 
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